Is This Cool Or What?

[tpelle]

I was poking around on the internet, looking for Chinabike stuff, and I ran across this on Zongshen's web site:





Motorcycle dump trucks!


And they have a kick start!


Anyway, I thought they were dump beds, and that lever on the right side just in front of the bed controlled the dump function. But then, after thinking about it, I wonder if that's an auxiliary reverse gearbox? What do you think?

[Mudflap]

About 15 years ago Lifan said they would be importing their version but it never happened.

[wheelbender6]

Reminds me of a Jeepney, a little.

[franque]

I see them every day, where I am. 1 metric ton cargo capacity, quite impressive really, even if the top speed is only 65 km/h.

[tpelle]

Now what would be cool is, on top of that flat bed, build a compact camper shell. Make a mini motorhome out of it. Of course, with only a 40 mph top speed, it would have limited practicality.


Also, regarding being a three-wheeled vehicle, the least stable version is with the single wheel in front. As you negotiate a corner, the vector of momentum is diagonally off to the outside of the curve, and it will tend to flip you onto your ear. That's why they outlawed those three wheel ATVs with one wheel in the front. They earned the reputation of being death traps.


But back to the top speed issue, I'd like to see what one looks like underneath. Notice they have a pretty substantial frame under there. I bet there would be room to install an additional set of sprockets on jackshafts to increase the final drive ratio for a bit more speed. Or, of course, just install a bigger motor. Some sort of parallel twin.

[65cabriolet]

I could certainly use one here at work!

[cheesy]

Plenty of these things in Mexico. Almost got smacked by one today.

[franque]

They're not chain drive, but shaft. They're built like a really small truck. I'd love to know the differential ratio, it might make for a cool tiny car. I'll see if I can't get a picture.

[Mudflap]

Vespa has been making the Ape since the early 1950s. As a kid we usually had one or more at home including a rickshaw, a pickup, and a 5th wheel truck with fold down sides. Most of them had a 220cc 2 stroke engine with enclosed chain drive. They had 4 forward gears and 4 reverse gears. Had a lot of fun with those things.

[TominMO]

Originally Posted by cheesy

Plenty of these things in Mexico. Almost got smacked by one today.

Could be a rival company looking to take out the only competent person in your company. But then again, with you retiring so soon, maybe not.

[buzz]

250R best atv ever, should never have been outlawed. just not for stupid people.